Ultrasound Biomicroscopy (UBM)

Ultrasound biomicroscopy is an eye examination that provides a detailed image of your eye. It uses high-energy sound waves to generate images of the inside of the eye. Ultrasound biomicroscopy is most commonly used to detect glaucoma (increase in eye pressure and damage of optic nerves), cysts, tumours, foreign objects in the eye and extent of trauma.

During the examination, you will be asked to lie down in a supine (face up) position. Your examiner will apply topical anaesthesia between the eye lids before scanning. The probe of the ultrasound is placed on the eyeball. Ultrasound biomicroscopy generates cross-sectional or transverse images of the following structures of the eye:

Cornea: transparent, dome-shaped layer covering the front of the eye

Sclera: white portion of the eye

Iris: thin, circular structure that regulates the amount of light that enters into the eye